विहीनान्सर्वकामेभ्यो दासभावमुपागतान्। धर्मपाशपरिक्षिप्तानशक्तानिव विक्रमे
Deprived of all pleasures, reduced to servitude, bound by the noose of dharma, powerless to act with strength.
क्रुद्धां चानर्हतीं कृष्णां दुःखितां कुरुसंसदि। दुर्योधनश्च कर्णश्च कटुकान्यभ्यभाषताम्
And Kṛṣṇā, though undeserving, was angry and distressed in the Kuru assembly; Duryodhana and Karna spoke harsh words to her.
तस्याः कृपणचक्षुर्भ्यां प्रदह्येतापि मेदिनी
With her pitiful eyes, she could have burned the earth itself.
अपि शेषं भवेदद्य पुत्राणां मम सञ्जय। भरतानां स्त्रियः सर्वा गान्धार्या सह सङ्गताः
O Sañjaya, will any of my sons remain today? All the women of the Bharatas have gathered together with Gandhari.
प्राकोशन्भैरवं तत्र दृष्ट्वा कृष्णां सभागताम्। धर्मिष्टां धर्मपत्नीं च रूपयौवनशालिनीम्
There, seeing Krishna present in the assembly—righteous, devoted to her righteous husbands, endowed with beauty and youth—they wailed in terror.
प्रजाभिःसह सङ्गम्य ह्यनुशोचन्ति नित्यशः। अग्निहोत्राणि सायाह्ने च चाहूयन्त सर्वशः
Gathering with the people, they constantly lamented; and all the evening fire-offerings were performed.
ब्राह्मणाः कुपिताश्चासन्द्रौपद्याः परिकर्षणे। आसीन्निष्ठानको घोरो निर्घातश्च महानभूत्
The Brahmanas, angered by the dragging of Draupadi, sat in silence; a terrible hush and a great thunder arose.
दिव उल्काश्चापतन्त राहुश्चार्कमुपाग्रसत्। अपर्वणि महाघोरं प्रजानां जयन्भयम्
Meteors fell from the sky, Rahu seized the sun, and at an unseasonal time, a great and dreadful fear arose among the people.
तथैव रथशालासु प्रादुरासीद्धुताशनः। ध्वजाश्चापि व्यशीर्यन्त भरतानामभूतये
Likewise, in the chariot-houses, fire suddenly appeared; and the banners of the Bharatas were torn apart, foreboding calamity.
दुर्योधनस्याग्निहोत्रे प्राक्रोशन्भैरवं शिवाः। तास्तदा प्रत्यभाषन्त रासभाः सर्वतो दिशः
At Duryodhana's sacrificial fire, jackals howled fiercely; and everywhere, donkeys responded with cries from all directions.
प्रातिष्ठत ततो भीष्मो द्रोणेन सह सञ्जय। कृपश्च सोमदत्तश्च बाह्लीकश्च महामनाः
Then Bhishma departed together with Drona, Sanjaya, Kripa, Somadatta, and the noble Bahlika.
ततोऽहमब्रुवं तत्र विदुरेण प्रचोदितः। वरं ददानि कृष्णायै काङ्क्षितं यद्यदिच्छति
Thereupon, prompted by Vidura, I spoke: 'I grant Draupadi whatever boon she desires.'
अवृणोत्तत्र पाञ्चाली पाण्डवाना --सताम्। सरथान्सधनुष्कांश्चाप्यनुज्ञासिषमप्यहम्
Then, there, Panchali chose the Pandavas—those righteous men—along with their chariots and bows; and I also gave my assent.
अथाब्रवीन्महाप्राज्ञो विदुरः सर्वधर्मवित्। एतदन्तास्तु भरता यद्व-कृष्णा सभां गता
Then the wise Vidura, knower of all dharma, spoke: 'Let this be the end for the Bharatas, now that Krishna has entered the assembly.'
यैषा पाञ्चालराजस्य सुता सा श्रीरनुत्तमा। पाञ्चाली पाण्डवानेतान्दैवसृष्टोपसर्पति
This daughter of the king of Panchala, the peerless fortune, Panchali, approaches the Pandavas, as though sent by the gods.
तस्याः पार्थाः परिक्लेशं न क्षंस्यन्ते ह्यमर्षणाः। वृष्णयो वा महेष्वासाः पाञ्चाला वा महारथाः
The Parthas, intolerant of injustice, will not endure her suffering; nor will the mighty bowmen of the Vrishnis or the great chariot-warriors of Panchala.
तेन सत्याभिसन्धेन वासुदेवेन रक्षिताः। आगमिष्यति बीभत्सुः पञ्चालैः परिवारितः
Protected by the truth-abiding Vasudeva, Arjuna will come, surrounded by the Panchalas.
तेषां मध्ये महेष्वासो भीमसेनो महाबलः। आगमिष्यति धुन्वानो गदां दण्डमिवान्तकः
Among them, the mighty bowman Bhimasena, of great strength, will come, brandishing his mace like Death himself.
ततो गाण्डीवनिर्घोषं श्रुत्वा पार्थस्य धीमतः। गदावेगं च भीमस्य नालं सोढुं नराधिपाः
Then, hearing the thunder of Gandiva from the wise Partha, and the force of Bhima's mace, the kings will not be able to withstand it.
तत्र मे रोचते नित्यं पार्थैः साम न विग्रहः। कुरुभ्यो हि सदा मन्ये पाण्डवान्बलवत्तरान्
Therefore, I always prefer peace with the Parthas, not conflict; for I consider the Pandavas always stronger than the Kurus.
तथा हि बलवान्राजा जरासन्धो महाद्युतिः। बाहुप्रहरणेनैव भीमेन निहतो युधि
Indeed, the powerful king Jarasandha, of great splendor, was slain in battle by Bhima with his bare arms.
तस्य ते शम एवास्तु पाण्डवैर्भरतर्षभ। उभयोः पक्षयोर्युक्तं क्रियतामविशङ्कया
Let there be peace between you and the Pandavas, O bull among the Bharatas; let what is proper be done for both sides, without fear.
एवं कृते महाराज परं श्रेयस्त्वमाप्स्यसि। एवं गावल्गणे क्षत्ता धर्मार्थसहितं वचः
If this is done, O king, you will attain the highest good; thus, O Gavalgana, the charioteer spoke words joined with dharma and artha.
उक्तवान्न गृहीतं वै मया पुत्रहितैषिणा
He spoke, but I did not accept it, being intent on my son's welfare.
एवं द्यूतजिताः पार्थाः कोपिताश्च दुरात्मभिः। धार्तराष्ट्रैः सहामात्यैर्निकृत्या द्विजसत्तम
Thus, the Parthas, defeated at dice and angered by the wicked sons of Dhritarashtra and their ministers, were deceived, O best of twice-born.
श्राविताः परुषा वाचः सृजन्तीर्वैरमुत्तमम्। किमकुर्वत कौरव्या मम पूर्वपितामहाः
They heard harsh words, sowing supreme enmity; what did my ancestors, the Kauravas, do then?
कथं चैश्वर्यभूयिष्ठाः सहसा दुःखमेयुषः। वने विजह्रिरे पार्थाः शक्रप्रतिमतेजसः
How did the sons of Pritha, whose splendor rivaled Indra’s, who were accustomed to great prosperity, suddenly endure hardship and dwell in the forest?
के चैतानन्ववर्तन्त प्राप्तान्व्यसनमुत्तमम्। किमाचाराः किमाहाराः क्वच वासो महात्मनाम्
Who accompanied them when they encountered this supreme misfortune? What were their habits, what did they eat, and where did those great souls reside?
कथं द्वादश वर्षाणि वने तेषां महात्मनाम्। व्यतीयुर्ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ शूराणामनिवर्तिनाम्
O best of Brahmanas, how did those mighty, steadfast heroes spend twelve years in the forest?
कथं च राजपुत्री सा प्रवरा सर्वयोषिताम्। पतिव्रता महाभागा सततं प्रियवादिनी
And how did that royal princess, foremost among all women, devoted to her husband, greatly fortunate, and ever gentle in speech—